*I seem to be writing stories in order of the events on GH. Watching the Michael and Willow storyline gave me the idea of Jason and Carly getting married to have a stronger stance where Michael is concerned, and I thought that I would love to take that idea and run with it.

*Some of the dialogue in the first chapter comes directly from GH.

Chapter 1 - Carly asks Jason for help

Jason was right in the middle of his meeting when there was a pounding at the door. Hearing a bit of a struggle, and Carly's voice pleading, "Please! Jason, I need to talk to you. Get your hands off of me! He will want to see me! Please!"

Pinching the bridge of his nose, he walked over to the door. Carly stood before him soaking wet and extremely pregnant. She grasped his arm, telling him, "Oh, thank God! Please Jason, I need you. I didn't have anywhere else to go."

"Carly, I'm busy right now."

Tears streaming down her face, she pleaded, "Please, Jason, it's real important."

"What?" He could already feel a headache coming on.

"I did something you're really not going to like." Her voice quivered, breaking his resolve to send her away. For some reason, whenever she was in trouble, he felt the most overwhelming urge to help her, to make the world better for her.

Closing the door to speak to her privately, he said softly, "Look, I'm in a meeting right now."

"If you tell me to leave, I don't know what's going to happen to me." She fought against the urge to fall into inconsolable sobs. Jason was the only person she could depend on. He had to help her. She didn't want to think about what would happen if he turned her away.

With a tight nod, he told her, "Go upstairs and dry yourself off in the upstairs bathroom while I finish this meeting, okay?"

Nodding her head, he watched her eyes filled with tears. "Thank you. I knew I could count on you."

Leading her across the room, he tried to obstruct her view of the men in his living room and their view of her. As she climbed the stairs, she gave one look back and then left the room.

When he was sure she had left, he turned back to his associates, and said, "I want to thank you all for your loyalty and your trust. You won't regret it. This is going to be an easy transition, I will make sure of that. Thank you for coming."

Benny nodded his head, and came forward to shake Jason's hand. "It will be an honor working for you, Jason. We have complete faith in your leadership."

The other men added their acceptance as well, then heading out of the penthouse. When they were alone again, Jason scratched his cheek, and then climbed the stairs. He found Carly sitting on the bed in Stone's old room. Her expression was a mixture of desperation and fear. Tears were pouring down her face. When she saw him in the door, she cried out, "Oh Jason! I have made a mess out of everything. I don't know what to do. They are going to take my baby."

By the end of her outburst, she had devolved into sobs. Her entire body shook. Jason moved to sit beside her on the bed. Turning, she threw herself into his arms. He held her tight and let her cry.

Finally, he told her, "Carly, take deep breaths. I will help you if I can, but you need to calm down. It can't be good for the baby. Just breath."

Taking deep, shuddering breaths, Carly rested her head on his shoulder. Jason rubbed her back soothingly. When she had calmed down enough to sit back, she said, "Thank you. I'm sorry I cried all over you."

"That's fine. Tell me what is going on. How can I help?"

She looked up to try to stop the tears from spilling again. In a broken voice, she told him, "I have made such a mess, and I think you are the only one who can help me." She paused to gather her strength, looking at Jason who sat waiting patiently for her to continue. "Tony told me he didn't love me. He thinks he never did. I know you aren't surprised. You have no use for him. I didn't think I did either, but he was married to Bobbie. Bobbie Spencer is my biological mother. She gave me up for adoption when she was 16 years old. I don't know who my father is, she doesn't either. She thinks I'm dead. And some days I wish I was because I don't know who my baby's father is either. The night I got pregnant, I slept with both Tony and AJ."

Instead of looking disgusted, which she was sure she deserved, Jason just nodded for her to go on. "It was a stupid mistake. Tony and I got into a fight, and I went to Jake's to see you, only you weren't there. But, AJ was. He was getting drunk off his ass, and I thought what the hell, so I joined him. I just felt so alone and unwanted. Tony pretends to want me, but it is always his precious Bobbie." She paused, shaking her head. "AJ made me feel wanted. But afterwards, I knew it was a big mistake, so I got dressed and went home to make up with Tony. One thing led to another, and then a few weeks later I found out I was pregnant. At first, I thought I was in the clear because AJ didn't remember it happening. But just my luck, his memory started coming back. So, I came up with this plan to get him sent away to some rehab." At his look, she said, "I know. It backfired, and he figured out the baby could be his."

Tears began silently slipping down her face. Jason held her hand, running soothing circles on her skin. "Tell me the rest," he said.

Nodding she said, "AJ started pestering me about the baby. Saying he was going to take it away from me. That I would never see the baby again. Then, Tony and I got in our worst fight yet. He told me he never really loved me, that we were a mistake. He said that I wasn't fit to raise his baby. I lost it, man. Then, I did something you are going to hate."

She bit her lip looking contrite. "Um… don't be mad. It was completely a spur of the moment thing. But, I can't let them take my baby."

"Carly…" He said impatiently.

"I told Tony the baby was yours."

Jason groaned and put his head in his hands.

"I'm sorry. I just needed some room to breathe. I didn't know what else to do. I'm so scared, and you are the only person I can count on."

"Carly, I can't lie."

"I can lie for the both of us. You just don't have to tell them it isn't true. I need you. I just need your help until I can figure something else out. I can't lose this baby." Tears started dripping down her face as she looked at Jason imploringly.

Jason looked up in thought for a moment, then he let out a sigh. "Okay. I will help you. If someone asks me point blank, I won't disagree that I am the father, but I don't know how well I will answer."

"Thank you!" She threw her arms around him, holding him tight. He reached up and held her against him. Just then, the baby started kicking. Jason pulled back looking down at her belly.

Carly laughed and told him, "See the baby is thanking you, too. He knows what a true friend and hero you are for the both of us."

Jason chuckled, then hesitantly placed his hand on her belly where the baby was kicking. The baby went into overdrive kicking Carly's stomach. Jason looked down in wonder.

"I think he likes you." Carly said with a smile on her face. "Jase, I promise you won't regret this."

"You have always had my back, I'm just returning the favor. Besides, I don't think AJ or Dr. Jones should take your baby away from you." He watched the relief wash over her face. He was struck by how alone she had to have felt. He could relate. Now that Sonny was gone, Carly was his only friend. Looking down at his hand, still resting on her belly, he felt the overwhelming protectiveness that she always seemed to bring up in him. "Do you want to stay here? I assume you don't want to go back to your apartment with Dr. Jones."

"You wouldn't mind?" She asked hesitantly. "We wouldn't be in the way?"

"No. Honestly, it feels lonely here since Sonny left. It would be nice to have the company. But you have to promise if I have meetings or I am talking on the phone, that you won't be ease dropping. There are things that I do that you can't know about, for my safety and yours. Do you promise?"

"Of course!" Carly agreed wholeheartedly. "Don't you know I would do anything for you? You're my best friend in the whole wide world." She took his hand in hers, placing it over her heart.

"You're mine too." He turned his hand so he was holding hers.

She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. Standing close to him, with a soft expression of happiness she didn't think she could feel at this point in her life, she told him again, "Thank you."

He gave a short nod, and then said, "Why don't you go upstairs and go to bed? You have to be exhausted."

With an uncharacteristic shyness, she agreed. She took his hand for one moment more, then walked upstairs. When she was safely in her room, she said, "We are going to be okay, Mr. Man. We have Jason's help now. He won't let anyone take you away from me. You will figure this out soon, but we can always trust Jason."

A wistful look crossed her face as she thought I wish he had been at Jake's instead of AJ.